THE Federation of Early Childcare Providers (FECP) confirmed last month that they will close their services in protest on September 26, 27 and 28, inclusive, with chairperson of the organisation Elaine Dunne saying closures will continue until the sector is funded correctly.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme, announced in 2010, sees the Government pay practitioners directly, providing each child in Ireland with two free years of early years education — but practitioners say the funds provided are too low to keep their schools open.
Mairead Davis owns Bright Beginnings in Douglas, which has been open for 30 years and is currently attended by 22 children, some of whom are second generation, with their parents having attended the school themselves in the 90s.
“I used to charge parents €18 a morning which was 10 years ago,” Mairead said.
While they receive €4.60 an hour from the Government, Mairead said childminders who drop children off are getting at least €10 an hour.
She explained: “I have heating, insurance, gas and four staff members.”
Rowena Fischer has been in the industry over 15 years, and owns Phyll’s Preschool in Bealnamorrive, a small, rural, nature-focused preschool where children have the choice to go outside all the time.
It is small schools like Rowena’s which are struggling the most, she said, describing the sector as “chronically underfunded”.
“There are many problems, but if funding was enhanced it would solve so many of them,” Rowena said.
“We haven’t had a pay rise in so many years — I don’t know of anything that cost the same price in 2010 as now.
“Since the core funding came in, I am losing control of my small business.
“It’s such a shame as I love what I do.
“I have an amazing teacher with me, I have a level 8 honours degree —I’m totally invested in it.”
Mairead Davis will be closing Bright Beginnings next week on Tuesday, September 26 only, when her staff will go to Dublin to strike.
“I have an awful lot of new children settling in, several with additional needs, and the three day closure would be too disruptive,” she explained.
Jennifer O Connell, who owns the Yellow House Montessori in Skibbereen, explained her decision not to close, having taken part in several protests before.
“Also I can’t afford to pay my team that day and lose the funding.”
Similar to Mairead, she added: “We have got quite a few children in my setting that have additional needs, they’re very vocal as they’re settling in, there’s a lot of crying.
“My team and I didn’t want to risk unsettling vulnerable children.
“That’s us putting the needs of the children ahead of our needs.”
Jennifer added that her team is “highly skilled as well as having many years of experience”, but are not being valued as such by the Government.
“I want them all to be acknowledged as the professional educators that they are,” she added.
As well as the low fees, there are huge levels of administrative work involved in early years education and care.
Mairead explained: “I have a girl working for me in her 20s.
“I have to pay her at least an extra three hours for all the paperwork — we get 11 cent per hour from the Government for this.”
For €69 per child [per week of Government funding] — it’s just too low.”
The demand for Rowena’s school is there despite the struggle to make ends meet: “I’m full, I have long waiting lists, I’m turning families away,” she said.
Despite the need for more places, it is almost impossible to get staff, as Rowena stated that the teacher who works with her “deserves so much more.
“We wanted this graduate led workforce, and these high quality and educated staff — but the graduates are not staying in the education sector.”
Speaking recently on Newstalk’s The Anton Savage Show, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman said: “I don’t believe that these closures are warranted.”
He added: “Since I’ve come to office, I’ve significantly increased the amount of investment in child care in our country.
“We’re hugely under invested compared to the rest of Europe.
“And I’ve been working really hard to catch this up.”
Rowena explained: “We acknowledge the various departments who have put money in — it’s just not adequate.
“I say it is very much warranted.”
Mairead shared with a letter she sent to parents explaining their situation, who she said were hugely supportive.
“We’re not allowed to take any donations, whereas a local school can,” she explained.
She said that extending the strike is definitely being considered.
“We are so hopeful for a change, we’re hoping that they’re going to announce some serious talks.
“We’re doing it for the children — I can’t stay open if there’s not changes,” Mairead added.
“I explained to parents that I don’t want to close and I know that it’s terribly inconvenient but if I don’t close now, I could be closing long term in June.”
Discussing the many preschools that have had to close, Mairead asked: “Where are these children going?
“Kids come to be educated, it’s not childcare.”
She also feels that the Government fails to see the importance of what they are providing, and added that people ask her why she is still working in the sector.
“I love my job, I love the children,” she said.
“I don’t know when I last took a wage.”
She explained that when core founding was announced “we just went along with it, perhaps because we’re predominantly women.
“But my business is not my own anymore — I’m told what to do, I’m told how much to pay.
“It’s not only me — it’s all small services like me, constantly fighting, constantly wondering will we have enough money, when will we be paid.”
